Recommend me a Cheapo MPV...

[fizzwheel]

For various reasons Liz and I have been considering a 2nd car, a friend of mine just bought a Jap Import Toyota Estima ( Think Previa ) Seen a few Townace's as well but these seem few and far between. My brother used to work for Toyota so I have had a good chat with him about the Previa so I know what I'm getting into there.

We've also been looking at Nissa Serena / Largo and Liz has been taken with a few Espace's we've seen on ebay. ( note buying an Espace breaks fizz's first rule of car ownership i.e dont buy a Renault )

So anything else we can look at, remember cheap is best, and also something we can use to camp in so it'll need fold down flat seats and plenty of room. Which is where the Previa / Estima scores well as its masive inside.

The idea is to use this to kip in at the AR, also I can chuck my pusher in the back of it for cycling events and Liz can use it for TA as well.

We havent got a massive budget so don't go recommending anything daft, also I hate Zaffira's with a passion so thats out to. Also something not Jap import would be better as its cheaper on the insurance then as well.

we had a scenic and it was good summat went on it injectors i think but apart from that it was reliable.

Ford Maverick (Nissan Terrano 2 in disguise) 2.7 litre turbo-diesel with intercooler

Just so happens I have one for sale cheap

we also had a maverick it was ace like a tank it drank like one too.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Jap Import Toyota Estima ( Think Previa )

I would tread very carefully with these - a friend bought a 2.4TD auto one (arent they all?!) and has had two cylinder heads on it as they are apparently very prone to cracking (reconditioned head place said they have almost become his bread-and-butter) - his is on its third one now and he is trying to sell it as he is fed up! Great car otherwise though

Nissan Serenas are the slowest things on the road - I think the diesel one held the dubious honour of "Slowest accelerating vehicle" for a while - very van like to drive too...

As much as it goes against the grain for you I think the Espace makes the most sense... (have no personal experience of them though)

[_Stretchie_]

How much you got to play with mate?

I got my 1998 Disco for £2,200 with 98k on the clock. But getting one with 130K+ on the clock wouldn't be a bad thing..

Or get an old 110... ; )

My sister used to have a Mitsubishi L200 about a 53 plate (not the new crappy , grily shape), that was good.

[fizzwheel]

Skip - yep I'm well aware of the Head issue on the Diesel models. We've been looking at Petrol ones as my brother said that the Diesel heads crack for a pastime.

Strechie - Dont really want to spend more than £1500

TBH I dont want a 4 x 4 like a Disco, its just not what we're after. We need ot be able to kip in the back of it and I dont know if you can fold the seats down in the Disco.

The thing we liked with the Estima is that its designed to do this and you can turn the rear seats into a bed.

[_Stretchie_]

The seats go forward in the Disco but to be honest, there's more floor space in the Civic when you put the seats forward.

I like the Jap vans, my mates dad back in Manchester used to import cars from Japan to sell over here and I've always liked them.. Good luck in your search my good fellow. Hope to see the new wagon at the AR

; )

[Viney]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

For various reasons Liz and I have been considering a 2nd car, a friend of mine just bought a Jap Import Toyota Estima ( Think Previa ) Seen a few Townace's as well but these seem few and far between. My brother used to work for Toyota so I have had a good chat with him about the Previa so I know what I'm getting into there.

We've also been looking at Nissa Serena / Largo and Liz has been taken with a few Espace's we've seen on ebay. ( note buying an Espace breaks fizz's first rule of car ownership i.e dont buy a Renault )

So anything else we can look at, remember cheap is best, and also something we can use to camp in so it'll need fold down flat seats and plenty of room. Which is where the Previa / Estima scores well as its masive inside.

The idea is to use this to kip in at the AR, also I can chuck my pusher in the back of it for cycling events and Liz can use it for TA as well.

We havent got a massive budget so don't go recommending anything daft, also I hate Zaffira's with a passion so thats out to. Also something not Jap import would be better as its cheaper on the insurance then as well.

Kia Sedona(or something like that) Mitsibushi engine i believe and probably quite a few around. A mate had one that cabbed it. Done 250k with no serious issues at all. Realiable as you need, just eh build and trim quality isnt quite up to it but survived well enough. Also the Seat Alhambra. Getting on a bit but it was the bettter and cheaper version of the Galaxy. The 130bhp TDi engine was pretty good. On a personal note, STAY AWAY FROM IMPORTS they are or at least can be a nightmare for parts. Even things like oil filter are different from thier UK cousins. The Estima is horrid as was the previa (Mid engined and a nightmare to work on) Dont get a Pug 806 either!! The Espace isnt a bad MPV. Again, the same mate cabbed one fo these for a few years but t was juicy and had electrical gremlins (Windows that wouldnt close and such like) Just remember the Nissan Serano is officaly the slowest 'car' to 60. Something like 56seconds!!

[dirtydog]

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

( note buying an Espace breaks fizz's first rule of car ownership i.e dont buy a Renault )

That's a good rule, stick with it! I've owned 2 Espaces in the past the 1st had loads of electrical gremlins and the passenger footwell constantly filled with water and the 2nd one wasn't much better with lacquer that just seemed to fall off the paint and electrical problems galore!!!


I've now got a W reg Ford galaxy 2.3 auto with 80k on the clock. Bought it in the summer after someone wrote my escort off it cost about £1000 as the body work is a bit tatty. Main downside is the fuel issue as it only gets about 19mpg around town and about 35 on the motorway on the plus side it does have (alledgedly) 145hp.
The seats don't fold down put you can take them all out and would definitely be able to kip in the back as there is loads of room